Facts about The Flynn Effect
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James Flynn himself argued the effect likely reflects improved test-taking skills and abstract thinking rather than genuine gains in biological intelligence.
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Gains from the Flynn Effect are most pronounced on subtests measuring abstract reasoning and fluid intelligence rather than crystallized knowledge.
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Proposed explanations for the Flynn Effect include improved nutrition, greater familiarity with abstract thinking, and expanded access to formal education.
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Average IQ scores increased by roughly 30 points across many developed nations over the course of the 20th century, as documented by the Flynn Effect.
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Researchers have documented a reversal of the Flynn Effect in several Scandinavian countries, with average IQ scores beginning to decline in the late 20th century.
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Named after researcher James Flynn, the Flynn Effect describes the sustained rise in average IQ scores observed across many countries throughout the 20th century.